AS food and food security become the centre of global deliberations, local entrepreneurs interested in agriculture are being encouraged to tap into the opportunities now.
Extending the invitation, Southex Promotions CEO George Singh sold the idea to creative business-minded people of the opportunities in aquaculture, hydroponics and the many different aspects of agriculture.
Head of an entertainment events promotions outfit, Singh, reading the global environment, grasped the opportunity to host the first Agriculture and Food Expo 2022 – Our Life, Our Business at Gulf City Mall, La Romaine. It was the first in over 20 years.
Singh’s goal is to make this expo, which opened on August 3 and ended on August 7 with a large farmer’s market, the most important agricultural event in the region.
He has set a three-year time line for this event he conceptualised, in partnership with the Supermarket Association (SATT), the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Georgetown Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCIC).
The feedback has been great, he said, and already spaces have been booked for the 2023 edition.
The successful five-day initiative came weeks before the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries hosts the TT Agri-Investment Forum and Expo 11, scheduled to take place from August 19-21 in Port of Spain.
At the opening of the five-day event, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Faris Al -Rawi, starting from where Singh left off, emboldened present and future entrepreneurs that it was time to dream as “Co-operative initiatives do exist."
“The Prime Minister himself has led the charge of regional integration in a significant way, so much so, that the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, will be here on August 17 (to attend the expo) to ensure that the land space of Guyana is available to the whole of Caricom.”
[caption id="attachment_969236" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Southex Promotions CEO George Singh hopes to make the recent Agriculture and Food Expo the most important agricultural event in the region. PHOTO BY Marvin Hamilton - Marvin Hamilton[/caption]
Al-Rawi said providing food security and import substitution is no longer just talk, it is in the stage of operationalisation.
“I can boast that the agricultural industry is nearly 100 per cent tax-free. The incentives do exist.”
Soon, he said, his ministry will be introducing to Cabinet a proposal for commercial agricultural exploitation to urban areas. He said this will be an opportunity for commercial management and dreams.
“That means an opportunity for commercial development, jobs, food production and import substitution.”
He saluted Singh for using the enterprise to showcase what agricultural potential is and encouraged people to dream about agricultural investment
“Money does grow on trees. It is called agriculture,” Al-Rawi quipped.
Singh said he was happy to create a space for respect and investment in t
